Need advice Frost zealot.

[:1]Hey i'm a new player and as my first char i'm trying to build a frost zealot.

Now i have reached nightmare i noticed i start missing mobs and the ice effect doesnt procc wich is really annoying and lowers my output by a lot.

im trying to make him :

+20 holy freeze

+20 resist cold

+20 salvation

+5 zeal

+20 holy shield

Also for gear i don't really know what to aim for can someone guide me in the correct direction and wich merc to use? |||If you have problems hitting monsters, you should go for more than 5 hard points in zeal. I'd drop salvation in favour of zeal, since it adds alot less frost dmg than resist cold, and those last points means little unless you actually hit with the attacks.

You could also consider an eth-rune socketed weapon to hit more often.

What you want on a frost zealot to make it viable in hell and still keep it cheap is:

* Some crushing blow (more is better, but as low as 25-30% can work fine for starters). Crafted blood gloves will help a bit. Duress runeword is really good if you get an UM-rune to drop.

* A source of open wounds. Consider crafting a blood belt if nothing else is available for you.

* Cannot be frozen. Getting chilled is a pain on any melee character and could be lethal.

* Decent resists (75 light/fire, 50 cold) is desirable. With better gear and more hp, you can make it with lower values, but start safely if it's your first char ever (especially if HC).

* Max block. Try to get a shield with good base block to avoid spending too much dex.

* A fast weapon and some IAS to hit at least the 5 FPA zeal breakpoint. If you can hit the 4 FPA breakpoint, so much the better.

Also, some manaleech can be nice, but only if your weapon deals enough physical dmg to actually help you leech some. Same goes for lifeleech.

Regarding merc, one from act 2 will help you the most if new to the game, and since you are the crowd control with holy freeze, I'd suggest might. Defiance could be nice too, but you will not have that high a base defence on a budget anyways, so is maybe not as helpful. Equip him with a big hurtystick of whatever to help kill stuff, and some lifeleech for survival. Later on you can optimize his equipment (pretty much any zealot guide, or other guide for that matter, gives some tips on what to give him to help you out.)|||If you're having trouble hitting mobs... have you considered a Blessed Aim merc?|||Quote:








Now i have reached nightmare i noticed i start missing mobs and the ice effect doesnt procc wich is really annoying and lowers my output by a lot.

...

Also for gear i don't really know what to aim for can someone guide me in the correct direction and wich merc to use?




Not connecting our attacks does seem to be a constant pain when it comes to Holy Fire/Freeze/Shock aura users (I'm currently building a HolyShock Riftadin myself). My advice would be to seek out ITD (Ignore Target Defense) weapons as they will solve your problem with regular mobs. The Unique mobs and Bosses however will require us to have some real means to land our attacks to deliver our elemental dmg that comes from our aura. Switching to a 1point smite attack combined with some form of CB will help in this respect; since Smite will connect [strike]with[/strike] without the need for AR, but by actually having a decent amount of AR seems the most efficient means of dealing with the problem.

I agree with uh...ok's recommendation of hiring an act 2 merc with Blessed Aim aura to makeup for your shortcoming in the AR dept. You should also be looking at your choice of gear to attain a decent amount of AR. Some fairly to MF or trade gear includes the following; and the list goes on.

• Angelic Rings & Amulet combo (arguably the most popular choice)


• Hsarus Boots & Belt combo


• Rare or Unique Helms with Visionary mod (adds a % of AR based on your character level; level 50 gives a bonus of 50% to your AR)


• Lava Gout Gloves (for the Enchant proc to give 101%AR)


• Sander's Boots (40FRW, 100AR, 10dex, 5str)


• IK Boots (40FRW, 110AR, 44life) - additional pieces gives extra AR


• Etc.

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im trying to make him :

+20 holy freeze

+20 resist cold

+20 salvation

+5 zeal

+20 holy shield




I rarely like to interfere with themed builds which I believe we derive the most fun playing, but here are some recommendations.

Your build seems like a straight-up Pure Cold build, not particularly optimal or advisable for Hell games since you will face Cold Immuned mobs. A slight tweak to your skill selection should compensate for this.

Defensive Aura

20 Resist Cold (remains unchanged)

Offensive Aura

1 Might (prerequisite)

1 Holy Fire (prerequisite)

20 Holy Freeze (remains unchanged)

** Blessed Aim ([strike]optimal[/strike] optional - every hard point invested here gives a passive 5%AR bonus)

Combat Skills

1+ Sacrifice (not advised if you do not have enough skill points to spare, and do not have a decent weapon to actually make full use of the dmg bonus it gives; remember your zeal dmg & sacrifice synergy is still based on your weapon of choice)

10+ or 20 Zeal (recommended - every level gives an additional 10%AR to your zeal attack & every beyond level 5 adds a little % boost to your dmg; this can be attained with +skill gear without hard investment)

1 Smite (prerequisite)

1 Holy Bolt (prerequisite)

1 Blessed Hammer (prerequisite)

10+ or 20 Holy Shield

By reallocating the skill points that you have originally invested into Salvation for the Holy Freeze synergy, and putting them into Zeal; you can boost your current AR and hopefully enough to not miss too often.|||It should be noted that even in the (perhaps outdated) guide for Frost Zealot, the "cold emphasis" build sinks 20 points into Zeal - and in fact recommends that you get 10-15 points into Zeal before pumping Resist Cold, and then to finish maxing out Zeal before Salvation. And you *shouldn't* need that many points into Holy Shield - additional points in Holy Shield beyond ~5-10 are mostly to compensate for lack of gear (a good shield or dex-boosting items) while still allowing you to invest a minimal number of points into dex.

http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Guide:...on_cold_damage

At least that's the guide I'm following. |||Quote:








Duress runeword is really good if you get an UM-rune to drop.




If he gets an um it would be better spent in Crescent Moon PB for the ITD, CtC static, and speed. ITD is pretty essential for an elemental zealot without conviction.

But he's just starting nightmare so he's not to that point yet. Black in a Knout would be pretty good for him, no ITD but a bunch of AR, it is fast, and crushing blow.

Smoke in whatever 2os exceptional armor he can find will help survivability.

Voice of Reason is often cited as a good low level (43) frost zealot weapon, but the lack of ITD and ED turns me off. IMHO the best use of the lem rune if you get it is Treachery - the venom proc is outstanding, the fade proc is outstanding, the IAS is outstanding.

2 or 3 piece Sigon remains good even into nightmare, with big attack rating bonus on the hat and IAS on the gloves (shield optionally just for awesomeness).

And of course I'll echo what others have said, you need to max zeal, both to increase your physical damage for the cold immunes, and especially to increase your attack rating (even if you have ITD, it doesn't work against champions uniques and bosses).|||I'd been giving some thoughts on weapons for your Freezadin, and here are some easily to make and relatively cheap runeword based weapons that might help you if you are having a hard time MFing suitable ones.

1. Black (Thul + Io + Nef) 3 Socket Clubs/Hammers/Maces
   
   Huge stats for a cheap price; 40CB, 200AR, 15IAS, but the Knockback mod with zeal might need some getting used to.
   


2. Honor (Amn + El + Ith + Tir + Sol) 5 Socket Melee Weapons
   
   +1skill, 20DS, 250AR, 7LL, 10str, but no IAS (otherwise it would probably be the best mid level gear around)
   


3. Crescent Moon (Shael + Um + Tir) 3 Socket Axes/Swords/Polearms
   
   ITD, Static Proc, 20IAS, 20OW. Best made in Phase Blades to capitalize on it's speed and indestructibility.
   


4. Passion (Dol + Ort + Eld + Lem) 4 Socket Weapons
   
   "50-80% Bonus AR" !!! 25IAS, +1 Zeal, Lv3 Heart of Wolverine charges (for additional AR/Dmg). The 25% cause Monster To Flee mod might need some getting used to too, but shouldn't pose much of a problem.

|||I used to play some frosties on hardcore and imho one of the best early/mid-lvl poor man's weapons for him is the Crushflange. Shael it and start knocking skulls.

Black as mentioned is neat as well if you've got the runes. It's annoying every now and then with the knockback thingy, but it turns out it's pretty decent crowd control on hardcore.

Basically you want to aim for big AR, IAS, Resists ans CB.

20 Zeal is a must, imho. Holy shield can be kept at 5 or so, salvation is your last skill to max out.

I usually ended up with a basic set of a shaeled 'flange, bloodfists or good crafted blood gloves, a spirit shield and since most of 'em were untwinked it varied from there.

Mostly resists on hat and ammy, ar/resists on rings.|||I agree with voice of reason being a very nice weapon, but that kinda changes the build focus from holy freeze. I would go with a bstar, or an aldurs mace even for starting out. I find aldurs is pretty awesome for as cheap as it is. Lightsabers, ginthers rifts, heavens lights, butchers pupil, headstriker, are all some easily acquired weapons that are decent but not mind blowing. They will get the job done.

treachery is an awesome armor and is very friendly for new characters. The mods on it are all useful for a melee build.

I too recommend maxing zeal for the damage and AR purposes. If you have to make sacrifices for now, you can just not put points into salvation until you acquire some better gear.



NOW THIS IS PURELY AN IDEA FOR WHEN YOU HAVE AQUIRED SOME WEALTH

For later on why not go for a doomz for the weapon when you can afford it.

The cold aura can be boosted by synergies, and that will free up 20 hard points for something like conviction which will increase your cold damage, and also make up for any lack of Ar cause by a low level zeal.

Then you could go:

20-Zeal

20-Conviction

20-Salvation

20-Resist cold

this leaves some extra points to dump into sacrifice(for more damage) or holy shield which will help with blocking, defense, and smite damage if you ever need to go that route.|||Hi there. I'm also a new player with a frost zealot as my first char. Currently L70 and coming towards the end of NM, it's been a lot of fun so far. Here's some things I have learned that might help you.

Like others have said you NEED max Zeal, you cant really skip that. 200% AR bonus is massive, especially when applied to items like Angelic ring/amulet or Hsarus belt/boots. At L70 I get base 840 AR from the ring/amulet, times 200% is 2,520 AR! From just 2 equipment slots. I have about 6,700 total AR at the moment and 90%+ chance to hit on most things.

I'm going for 20 Zeal, 20 Holy Freeze, 20 Resist Cold, 20 Sacrifice, 5 Holy Shield. Seems to me like that the additional physical damage and life leech from Sacrifice will be more useful than the minimal cold damage increase from Salvation. But I'm a noob so could well be wrong there :P Will probably pump Holy Shield more if I get further than that.

Weapons;

Black - I upgraded from a Steel flail to this shortly after starting NM because I found an Io rune and a 3 socket jagged star in the second area of act 1. I HATED it, knockback on a zealot is extremely irritating. Now I just have it on switch for act bosses and other high health monsters (it is very useful for that if you dont have Crushing Blow from anywhere else).

Honor - Highly recommended! Made this in a Knout that I found at the start of act 2. Any white knout you find will get 5 sockets from Lazruk. +1 skills and +250 AR will help your accuracy problems a bit. Yes, it doesn't have any IAS but you dont really need to worry much about that at this point. Imo. And just 10% IAS from any other slot will give you 6 fpa.

I'll probably still be using this weapon in early Hell, thinking of doing it again in a Scourge if I don't find something better.

Question: I see a lot of people that recommend ITD as a solution to accuracy problems. I don't get it. What's the point being able to hit normal monsters and whiffing on any champion/unique/boss? Am I missing something?

Armor;

I am using Smoke, mainly for the resistances. Recently found an Um in a random chest and am thinking of making Duress but will need to make up the resistances somewhere else (better shield hopefully).

Shield;

I used Rhyme for a long time, it's pretty nice. Now I have Spirit in a base +15 crown shield. Badly need to find a better base for that. Or a HoZ (haha).

Head;

Try to gamble a rare +paladin skill circlet. I got quite a nice one with +20 resist all, +9 dex.



Hope that helps!